Process of making hats.



Patented Aug. 29, I899.

J. H. NEAVE.

PROCESS OF MAKING HATS.

[Application filed Dec. 81, 1897.;

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WITNESSES THE "cams Pzrzns co, motmuma. wnsnmomu. o. c.

UNITED STATES" "PATENT -rricln.

JOHN HENRY NEAVE, OF ITIATTEAIVAN, NEV YORK.

PROCESS OF MAKING HATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,903, dated August 29, 1899. Application filed December 31,1897. semi No. 665,053. (No specimens.)

To all whont it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN HENRY NEAVE, of Matteawan, county of Dutchess, and State of New York, have in vented a new and useful Improvement in Processes of Making Hats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to the process of making hats in imitation of felt, the object being to produce a hat which will be inexpensive, durable, and of light weight, and which will have the appearance of the felt Derby hat so commonly worn.

The invention consists in forming the body of the hat of a mixture of pulp and a resinous material in granular or pulverulent form treated to form an integral or substantially integral mass and covering this body in an improved manner with fur or analogous material to produce a surface resembling that of a felt hat.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a tank with a hatform therein for the purpose of producing the pulp body of the hat. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the pulp body removed from the form and previous to being treated to render it homogeneous. Fig. '3 is a similar view of the pulp body after being treated to render it homogeneous. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation showing the manner of condensing or concentrating the fur previous to its application to the surface of the pulp body. Fig. 5 is a sectional View showing another way of concentrating the fur and applying it to the pulp body.

Referring to the drawings, in carrying my invention into efiect I first form from a mixture of pulp, preferably wood-pulp, and a resinous material in granular or pulverulent form a body of the general form of the hat to be made, which operation may be conveniently effected by the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, consisting of a tank 1, containing in its base a perforated hat-form 2, of the construction well known in the art, and a pipe 3 for withdrawing the water through the form. A

mixture of wood-pulp and a resinous material, preferably shellac, in granular or pulverulent form, as distinguished from a solution of the same, is placed in the tank 1 above the perforated hat-form, and the water of the mixture being withdrawn from below through the pipe 3 a layer or deposit of the mixture of pulp and shellac will be left on the surface of the form, producing a pulp body, as shown in Fig. 2. This layer is removed from the form and subjected to pressure in any suitable mann'er to consolidate the mass and expel the water therefrom. It is then dried and subjected to the action of a sufficient degree of heat to melt the shellac, the result being that the melted shellac will run or flow and permeate the fibers of the pulp, and on hardening or softening will form a practically integral mass or body, such as shown in Fig.3. This pulp body is now ready to receive on its surface the coating of fur or analogous material to cause it to resemble the ordinary felt hat. The fur is applied by bringing it in a concentrated or condensed condition into intimate contact with the surface of the body, to which an adhesive composition has been applied, the result being the adhesion of the fur in a uniform layer completely covering the surface of the body and producing a surface resembling that of felt. I prefer to accomplish the condensation or concentration of the fur to enable it to be brought in this condition into contact with the pulp body by depositing a layer of the fur on a flexible backing, such as the felt cap 4, in an ordinary perforated hat-form, such as was employed to form the pulp body. This may be accomplished by the same apparatus represented in Fig. 1, in the tank of which a mixture of water and fur in a finely-divided condition is introduced, the perforated form being first covered with the felt cap or backing. On the withdrawal of the water through this backing and v form the fur will be deposited on the backing in a uniform layer, as shown in Fig. 4. The water is then drained from the fur, preferably by placing the backing, with the fur thereon, in a hydraulic press and subjecting the same to high pressure, and after the fur is thoroughly dried by heat or otherwise it is ready to be applied to the pulp body. Before applying the fur to the pulp body the surface of the latter is coated with an adhesive composition to cause the fur to adhere. I prefer to employ a varnish for this purpose, and in order to prevent the alcohol in the varnish from acting on the pulp or shellac in the body, which would inthe fur surface next the varnished surface of the pulp, and they are subjected to the action of heat and pressure, conveniently in a heated metal die, the result being that the varnish and shellac will be softened by the heat, and the fur being thus brought into intimate contact with the softened varnish will be.

caused to adhere to the surface of the body, forminga uniform layer of fur completely and wholly covering the surfaceof the pulp body. When the varnish has set, the cap or backing is stripped, leaving the fur coating exposed. By thus applying the fur coating by bringing the fur in a condensed or concentrated condition into contact with the pulp body I am enabled to obtain a thicker and more uniform layer on the body than if the fur were sifted or dusted on,as hasheretofore been practiced. Instead, however, of first depositing a layer of the fur on the backing, asdescribed, it may be compressed around the hat in a suitable casing 5, surrounding the hat, as shown in Fig. 5. The furbeing packed in this casing is brought in a compressed condition into intimate contact with the body and caused to adhere as in the other case described. The hat may now be subjected to such of the usual finishing and polishing operations as are commonlypracticed and which may be found necessary to give the surface a smooth and finished appearance to resemble that of the ordinary felt hats,and the interior of the hat may be treated to give it the proper finished appearance. By forming the body of pulp and shellac or of any other resinous or gummy material the body is readily susceptible to the action of heat, so that the brim may be properly curled and the crown manipulated to properly fit the wearer, as the usual felt hats are now shaped to the head.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The process of forming hats in imitation of felt, which consists in producing a-body of the general form of the hat, condensing a quantity of fur, bringing the condensed fur into contact with the body, and finally subjecting the body and fur to pressure; Whereby a portion of the condensed fur will be caused to adhere to the surface of the hat and form a complete covering.

2. The process of forming hats in imitation of felt which consists in producing a body of the general .form of the hat, applying to said body a flexible backin g having a layer of ,fur thereon with the furnext the body, and finally stripping the backing to expose the fur.

3. The process of forming hats in imitation of felt which consists in producing a body of the general form-of the hat, applying to said body an adhesive composition, applying to a flexible backing a layer of fur, applying this backing and for to the body with the fur next the adhesive com position,subj ecting the same to pressure to cause the fur to adhere and finally stripping the backing to expose the fur. I

4. The process of forming hats in imitation of felt, which consists in producing from a mixture of pulp and a resinous material in granular or pulverulent form, a body of the general form of the'hat; applying tosaid'bodya covering of varnish or adhesive composition; applying to a flexible backing alayer of fur; applying this backing and fur to the body with the fur next the adhesive composition;

subjecting the same to heat and pressure to melt the resinous material, soften the varnish and'cause the fur to adhere; permitting the varnish to set; and finally stripping the'fiexible covering to expose the fur.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 22d day of December, 1897, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

JOHN HENRY NEAVE.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN R. KEEOH," LEONARD D. CHRISTIE. 

